No, this doesn’t vault Chicago into NBA title contention, but Chicago added two decent role players for almost nothing.

People seem happy to be rid of the grumpy, ineffective Wallace — and the last 2 1/2 years of his four-year, $60 million contract. But this isn’t just subtraction. There’s addition, too.

Larry Hughes made the NBA’s first-team all-defense team three years ago. He shoots poorly, but if he shoots less, he could be a real asset. And forward Drew Gooden (11.3 points, 8.3 rebounds) can be like regaining Tyson Chandler.

And all they cost were two aging forwards who were signed as free agents. GM John Paxson gave up nothing to get Wallace and Smith, then turned them into a pair of veteran building blocks for an otherwise young team. That’s a great move.

Sox detractors now supporters

Remember Baseball Prospectus? They were the ones who correctly predicted the White Sox would suffer the biggest decline in the American League in 2006. And then correctly predicted the Sox to finish 72-90 last year.

Well, they wrote early this week: “This improved roster remains one top-tier starting pitcher shy of hanging with the top two teams in the division.”

“We’re going to look to create competition at that position just like we would at any position,” he said.

This comes after he traded Thomas Jones last year to eliminate competition and has gifted the quarterback job to Rex Grossman four years in a row.

Angelo also said: “Last year we were the best we’ve ever been with our three quarterbacks since I’ve been here.”

The Bears finished 27th in passer rating. The only five teams with a worse passer rating than Chicago finished a combined 20-60. Angelo’s low, low QB standards continue to hold the Bears back.

Cubs make all the right moves

The Cubs haven’t reached the playoffs in back-to-back seasons in 100 years. But they also haven’t acted this smart in 10 decades.

From making three relievers battle for the closer’s spot — instead of the Jerry Angelo/Lovie Smith method of just handing it to the worst choice — to signing Kosuke Fukudome, to going with rookie catcher Geovany Soto to considering Felix Pie, Sam Fuld and Tyler Colvin in center, the Cubs are making all the right choices. Including, so far, holding off on trading for Brian Roberts.

Why add Roberts to play second when that would bump Mark DeRosa (.293, 10 HR, 72 RBI) out of the starting lineup?

Baseball help available

The biggest small-market baseball mistake every year is passing on cheap veterans. (The Twins let David Ortiz go because they didn’t want to pay Big Papi $2 million).